Ramp-rail installation



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

' RAMP-RAIL, I NSTALLATIOliT.

Application filedOctober 18, 1 920.

To all whom 2'25 may concern:

Be it known that I, ANDREW'J. BROOKINS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certainjnew and useful Improvements in Ramp-Rail Installation, of which the following,reference being had to the drawing accompanying and forming a part thereof, is a specification.

This invention relates to the ramp rail of a block signal railway system, wherein a ramp rail, (or ramp), track and track side electric circuits, with energizing means, are used as elements of the installation.

Among the objects of this invention are, to obtain an installation of a ramp which will, automatically, indicate danger to control circuits of predetermined blocks in case that any essential elements of the ramp are removed or misplaced; andan installation which automatically indicates thebreaking down of the insulation separating the several sections of the ramp.

Ina block signal system of which this in-' vention is adapted to be applied the track of a given block is an element of a circuit which comprises the rails of said track, the

coils of an electro-responsive device arranged to control-movable conductors which form elements of a track s1de c1rcu1t, orcircults,

electric conductors which connect the said rails and coils of said electro-responsive device, and means formed thereby; the arrangement of said track circuit being such that proper energizing of said coils moves into, and maintains said movable conductors of the track side circuit in electrical contact with correspond ing contact points, and when a motor, engine or car, moves on to the given block, said coils are shunted and become insufficiently s i I Z2 6 C, C, represent tie plates joining the In reducing this invention to practice I.

track circuit,

obtain the same controlof said in case of the misplacement of the ramp, or,

of any section thereof, that'is obtained" as,

last above described, when a rail ofsaid track is removed or broken. I

This invention is-also adapted to beiiapplied to block signal systems Working in conjunction with i Specification of Letters Patent.

is on th rails of In the drawing referred to Figure 1 is a to energize the track circuit 7 .a given part lndlcates said part throughout tion, and 4 a v A, B, represent insulation between adjacent 6 5 ,12 5", respectively,

in the usual manner.

scribed), and e corresponding with Serial No. 417,705.

controlled by a ramp and its energized or non-energized electrical conditions, said Patented'Sept; 27, 1921.

ramp being an element ofthe track side circuit hereinbefore mentioned; it being well known that in said cab installations cab can ried conductors and electroresponsiveapparatus form, at intervals, elements of a circult, or circuits, of which said ramp and track side installationsalso are elements; and in reducing this invention to practice I obtain a similar control of said cab carried installations, on the breaking down ofthe insulation of said ramp section that is -obtained in the case of the shunting of the coils of an electroresponsive apparatus of the trackcircuit when a motor, engine or car a block.

sideelevation of a track of a railway, a ramp embodying this invention, a truck and a cab carried apparatus thereon, arranged to c0- act with said ramp. a plan view of a railway track, V

80 and a diagram of track and track side cir- I cults co-acting therewith.

Fig. '2 is a an installation embodying this invention,

Fig. 3 1s a section of a rail ofa track, and an illustration partly in vertical section and partly in elevation, of members forming elements of the invention.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on line 4-4 a of Fig. 3, viewed as indicated by arrows.

A. reference character applied to'designate theseveral figures of the the same appears.

l, 2, 3, respectively represent what is termedfa block of a railway signal installaportion of an additional block.

drawing wherever ends of rails a a a (1 ,01 (1 and 6 b b 6 adjacent ends of rails 21, a a? a a a, b b and said'tie plates are separated from the D represents a ramp, which is illustrated as consisting of ascending sectional and descending section (Z E E E represent plates which form the ramp ends of bars I I I (hereinafter dee?, 6' represent tie plates plates E E E E and e e 6 are of Plates E E I electric conducting materiahand are posiautomatic train carried paratus, wherein cab carried apparatus is tio'ned 'onopposite sides of sections d, d of rails by insulation, 4

after described. F, G, represent members of electric conducting and preferably'resilient material, which electrically connect the plate E on one side of the sections of the ramp with the plate 6 on the other side of said sections. These members F, G, are held in electrical contact with each other and with said plates E, e, by the ramp sections and connecting members, when said sections are properly inplaoe and insulated. When a section of the ramp is removed, or said connecting members are misplaced, one of said members, F, G, springs or drops from contact with the other, thereby opening the cir cuit hereinafter termed the detector circuit, of which said plates, hereinafter termed detector plates, are elements. Said detector plates are separated from the sections d, d of ramp D, by insulations H, h, respectively.

Referring to Fig. 3, plate E is illustrated as integral with bar I, as before stated, and in electrical connection with raila by means of said bar; and a plurality of bars I, are illustrated in Fig. 2 as electrically connecting plates E of ramps to a rail of the track.

J, J, represent bolts; K, K, Sulation tubes on said bolts; of insulating material, conducting material. secured to a. rail (a), by the curved end i,

is, 70, washers and .7 .7

I bolt '5, member 71 and boltc'. i 3),

represents an abutment therewith and at right angles to the body thereof, through which the bolt i extends and by means whereof the member i is forced into close contact with the base of the rail (a, Fig. 3) by thetightening of nut being so related that the detector forced intoelectrical contact with each other,

i on said bolt. I

The bar I is illustrated, (Fig. 3), as a right angle bar, and the apex of the ramp sections is secured thereto, by the members hereinbefore described.

Bolts J, J, extend through apertures provided therefor in sections d, al insulations H, H, and h, h, and 7c, kfsaid apertures plates are to form a continuous conductor between plates E, 0, when said members are all in proper relation and the nuts on said bolts are tightened, as illustrated. Y

Eachblock of the railway is provided with a battery or electric generatorv having similar connections. M represents said battery in block 1, M in block 2, and M in block 3. i

In Fig; 2 the connections of the batteries M MflM are illustrated, and comprise conductors m m m to rails a a a conductors a 01 a from the batteries to movable conductors N ,N ,N contact points 0 O O b b 6 Each block of the railway is provided with the above described installation.

tromagnet,

a ainst insulation H H h h l other; Y

tie plates (E, of the ramp represent inwashers of Bar 1 is illustrated as on bar I, integral nary control I this invention thereto.

and conductors P P P to rails Each block is also provided with the ad ditionalinstallations which are illustrated in Fig. 2 as installed in blocks 1, 2 and 3, comprising a battery (Q Q Q an elec- R R R a conductor (S S 3?), from battery, (Q Q Q to electromagnet" (R R R and a conductor (T T T), from said magnet to the curved end (i i i of the connecting bar (1 I 1 in said block, plate (E E E integral with said bus detector plates (G G G and F F F3, to tie plate (6 6 ,6 on the opposite side of the. ramp sections. Plates e e 6 are respectively held rigidly by'bolts J, J; said boltsand insulation also holding the detector plates G,'F, in close contact with tie plates E 6 E? e; E e and with each Said installation also comprises, from said tie plates 0 e e conductors 3 t; 1 3/ F, to batteries Q Q Q respectively. It will be observed that the several 6) and detector plates (G,F), (D), by the last described connections are arranged in series on the track side circuit which is thereby formed, and energized by the battery of said circuit; that said track side circuit is a local circuit which controls the circuit hereinbefore described, which includes batteries M M M of blocks 1, 2, 3, conductors n n n movable conductors N N N contact points O 0 0 conductors P P P and rails b b b conductors U U U, '(at the left hand end of the respectivesections or blocks, Fig. 2), relays V V V and conductors a a u? to rails a a a; The position of the conductor U, relay V and in block 1 being at the extreme left hand of said block as viewed in Fig. 2, said members are not illustrated, but are similar in posi tionand construction as the same elements in blocks 2, 3 and a, which are illustrated.

The circuit which comprises, (among other elements). battery Q and electromag. net R, controls the circuit of the block, in addition to the control ordinarily provided for said circuit, (in each block) (said'ordiforming no part of this invention). A sufficient number of the elements. of said ordinary block circuits are illustrated and are about to be describedto enable those skilled in the art to under-' conductor a stand the relationv of the embodiment of 1 The track side circuit comprises, in addition to battery M, and the elements recited as in said circuit, the ordinary controlled circuit comprising batteries W 1V W conductors X X X3, Y 1 ,Y Y g movable conductors Z ,Z Z and contact points 2 2 .2 ConductorsX X X connect batteries W W Wfland movable conductors Z Z Z;

conductors Y Y Y connect contact points 'cuit comprising said:

is evident that apparatus, and said z, 2 z -with descending section al of ramps D and conductors 3 g 3 connect tie plates 6 e e ,'to the otherapole of said batteries W W W and the cirnary ramp rail partial circuit of said several blocks, which are completed at intervals when the shoe of the cab carried apparatus comin in contact with the descending section 0? the ramp.

From the foregoing description of the several installations which are illustrated, (said installationscomprising existing circuits and additions'to existing circuits), it the circuits of which the batteries Q Q Q conductors S S S coils of electromagnets R R R conductors T T T connecting bars I I I, detector lates G G G and F ,'F F tie plates 6 ,1 1 e E, e and conductors t t are elements, are normally closed and energized circuits, and that the continuity of the several additional circuits which are some fully and somepartially, illustrated,

depend on said normal condition of the above described circuits being maintained; it therefore occurs that on the'misplacement'of any section of ramps D D D the continuit of the circuits comprising batteriesQ Q, magnets R R R become broken; said magnet becomes denergized; and the movable conductors N N N separate from electrical contact with contact points O O and that thereby the continuity of the circuits of which said movable conductors are elements is broken, said circuit, in a given block, comprising battery M, conductor n, movable conductor N, contact point 0, conductor P, track rail 6, conductor U, coils of electromagne-tV (relay V), conductor u, track rail a and conductor m.

The partial track side circuits known in the art and which in this installation comprises as elements thereof the additional detector plates F, G, and consists in a given block, of battery W, conductor 2 tie plate 6, said plates F, G, plate E on bar I and said bar, rail a, and from the other pole of said battery Vin conductor X, movable conductor Z, contact point a, conductor Y, and the descending section al of ramp D. Said descending section 01 of ramp D, co-acts, when in normal condition, with cab carried completed thereby; and on the breaking down of the insulation between sections 0!, al said partial circuits are not in normal condition; but a continuous track side circuit is formed,'comprising battery W, conductor X, movable conductor Z, contact point 2, conductor Y, descending section al of ramp D, detector plates F, G, tie member and'conductors and t to said battery, in a given block. This track side circuit is elements is the ordi-- carried electrical movable conductor N and the coils of electrocarried members circuits are successively combination with road sulate, said tie elements of the'cab carried apparatus, which is-shunted by the continuous track side circuit last above set forth; said last circuit is of lower resistance than the one including said cab carried elements; hence, said cab apparatus, depending for its operation on current from theramp sections, as they are successively engaged by the shoe of the cab carried apparatus, will be shunted when said shoe comes in contact with'a ramp, causing a stop or danger. operation of said'cab carried apparatus,

It will be observed that upon the deenergizing of a relayR, in agiven block, as say, relay R in block 2, and the consequent breaking of electrical contact between: i

and contact point the circuit of which said movable conductor and contact point are elements, will be broken and denergized, and'relay V 'will become deenergized, and movable conductor;

Z Will-break contact with contact point .2 and thereby the circuit in block 1, of which said-movable conductor and contact point are elements, will be broken, and the descending section 0Z of ramp D will be de-- energized; that is, on the misplacement of a. ramp in a given block a danger signal is givenon the contact of the shoe of cab carriedapparatus with the ramp in a pre ceding block. i

1'. "In a track way dividedinto electrically insulated blocks, and provided at stated intervals with electric circuits comprising cab and track side members, means to shunt said cab carried members 1 at said stated intervals, said means toshunt comprising normally insulated electric conducting members adapted, upon the breaking down of said insulation, to form elements of an auxiliary circuit parallel to and of less electrical resistance than said cab carried elements.

2. A track way divided into electrically insulated blocks, a sectional member in each of said blocks, tie members said sectional members in a determined position, electric conducting members in electric communication with each other and with said tie member's, means to insulate said sectional members from said tie members and from said electric conducting members, in

side elements arranged to co-act with cab carried elements comprising an electroresponsive device to form an electric circuit, all. "arranged so that on the breaking'down of said means to in members and said electric conducting members are elements of an auxiliary circuit parallel to said cab carried elements thereo and of'less electrical readapted to hold 115' members to said sections,

sistance,

ments.

3. A track way divided into blocks, a sectional member in each of said blocks, tie

ing member secured to said tie members tain said track way and said sectional members in spaced relation, means,zcomprising an electric circuit controlled by the condition of said blocks, in combination with additional electric conducting members insulated from said sectional members andin electric communication with each other and with said tie members, an additional electric circuit comprising. said additional electric conducting members, additional electric conductors, said tie members, a source of electrical energy, and an 'electroresponsive device, all arranged so that the maintaining of said normal position of said additional electric conducting members controls the continuity of said first electric circuit. Y

I. In a ramp rail installation, comprising a road side member in spaced relation to rails of a track way, tie membersto said road side member, said road side member positioned between said tie members ,and insulated therefrom, and an electric conducting member arranged tomaintain said spaced relation, in combination with meansto hold said electric conducting member in electrical contact with said tie members, all

arranged to form a road side electric circult comprising as elements thereof asource of electrical energy,

conducting member. a

5. In a railway block system consisting of a track way divided into electricallyinsulated blocks respectively provided with a track circuit and with a sectional road side member, tie members arranged, said tiemembers and said sectional road side member in normal condition, to, join the sections, insulation interposed between said road side member and said tie members, means consisting of an electric conductor in electric communication with said tie members, to maintain said road side member in spaced relation to said track way, in combination withmeans to automaticallybreakthe continuity of said track circuit upon the breaking of said normal condition, said means to break comprising electric conductors in electric contact with each otherand with said tie members arranged to be maintained in said contact by said normal condition.

6. A ramp comprising a plurality of insulated sections, ln'combination with asource of electrical energy, electrically connected tie members to said: sections, means-to insulate said tie members from said sections, and conductors, one whereof electrically connects to shunt said cab carried elean electric conductto the track way and and arranged to mainsections, tie members. to oin said" sections i and insulated therefrom,

when in normal position,

member, and insulated an electroresponsive. device, said tie members and sa d electrical.

from the other of electric circuit, and

said source to: a predetermined one. of said sections and the other electrically connects said source to saidtie members, whereby, on.

to selectively energize a predetermined one, said meanshaving as eleof said sections, ments thereof a sourceofelectirical energy, a conductor from said'source .to said predetermined SGCtlOIli'iLIld an additional conductor from said sourceto: saidtie members, and said me-ans adapted to form a .closedand energized electric circuit upon thebreaking down of said insulating means;

8. In a block signal railway system hav ing a 'tively. provided withqa source of electrical trackway divided into blocks respece energy, with conductors and with a roadside member in spaced relation with adjacent comprising a plurality of rails of-said trackwaypan additional cir-- ,cuit; comprising in combinatiom; an addi tional source of; electrical energy, electrically connected tie members to said qroad-side said tie members arranged inseries an electric conductingmember from said roadside member,

arranged to maintain said spaced relation of. said roadside member to said t-rackway-and in electric connection with said? .tie 'members, an electrorespons-ive member- 'provided with a coil, and additional conductors electrically connecting said additionalsource of electrical energy to-saidtie members and to 1 said. coil and fromsaid coil toisaid electric.

conducting :member,

tors in adjacent blocks.

and means controlledby said electro-responsive member to control the continuity ofsaid roadside conducmember in spaced relation to a rail of a track, electrically connected tie members to hold the sections ofsaid; member in a predetermined position, insulation between-said sections and said tie members, a conductor from one of said tie membersfto said rail,

a conductor said tie members tothe coil of said electroresponsive member, and from said coil to-said rail, a battery, said rail, said first conductor, said battery and said coil,.forming elements of a roadside an veloc'troresponsive member,

circuit of an adjacent block in which a simis an element.

said electroresponsivc member acting. as a. control of a road side- 10. In a'train control system having a trackway consisting of a plurality of insulated blocks, a plurality of track side cir cuits respectively provided with an electroresponsive member and means to control said member, said means to control comprising in combination road side elements in spaced relation to the rails of the track Way, electrically connected tie members in each of said blocks to join corresponding ones of said road side elements, means to insulate said tie members, an electric conducting member to electrically connect one of said tie members to a rail of said track- Way, a source of electrical energy, an additional electroresponsive member With a coil, conductors electrically connecting said coil to said raihand to source of electrical energy and a conductor electri cally connecting said source of electrical energy to the other one of said tie members.

ANDREW J. BROOKINS.

In the presence of CHARLES TURNER BROWN, BESS S. BROWN.

provided 

